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12/13/2024
WT Staff
 Knowledge of an environmental crime? Give us a call at 877-52-WATER (877-529-2837), or email info@watertoday.ca
December 13, 2024 1112 am PST
CWA CrimeBox
Environmental Crimes Historic Conviction: Fiscal Year 2011; Case ID# CR_2158(California)
Mystery chemical spill in San Pedro Creek tracked back to a storm drain in Goleta, business owner prosecuted for illegal discharge
One of 72 Clean Water Act Criminal Prosecutions in the State of California (from 1989-2023)
April 2009: EPA investigators were called to assist Santa Barbara County Fire Department with a chemical spill into San Pedro Creek, a minor tributary flowing directly to the Pacific Ocean. The unidentified contaminant entered the waterway a mile and a half from the Pacific coast, near the city of Goleta.
The United States Coast Guard, U.S. EPA and California Department of Fish and Game personnel responded to assist Santa Barbara County with the emergency cleanup. The cleanup operation ran up a total billing of $200,000 as a large volume of contaminated water and soil had to be dredged and hauled out. A joint investigation team comprised of EPA-Criminal Investigation Division, Santa Barbara County Fire Department (SBCFD), California Department of Fish and Game, and Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) identified a suspect, the owner of two businesses located 100 ft from San Pedro Creek.
Upon interviewing the suspect, investigators learned some used 55 gallon drums had been rinsed out the day of the spill incident, the suspect admitted to the improper release of the cleaning effluent to a drain on the driveway of the business. The suspect cooperated with investigators, providing Material Safety Data Sheets identifying two chemicals, ACCLAIM POLYOL 2220N of the chemical family Polyether polyois, and POLYTHF 1000 Polyether.
The defendants in this case, the business corporation and the owner of the corporation were charged with a single count violation of the Clean Water Act for the illegal discharge. The federal District court judge issued the sentencing, including a federal fine and special Court Assessment, $18,000 in restitution to the United States Coast Guard for costs incurred in the investigation and clean-up operation.
Federal Fine: $2,500; Restitution: $18,000; Community Service: 200 hours
CWA CrimeBox briefs are compiled from EPA Criminal Enforcement records.
See last week's CrimeBox here, Non-conspirators: Cooperation with Coast Guard keeps a crew member clear of a criminal record
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